William Hecht '61, SM '76
Scholarship Fund Honors Hecht's Service, Benefits Undergraduates
After 23 years of distinguished service, Bill Hecht '61, SM '76 is stepping down from his role as executive vice president and CEO of the MIT Alumni Association. In recognition of his outstanding service and his long-time commitment to both students and alumni, MIT has established the William J. Hecht Scholarship Fund to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students.
"The Hecht Scholarship Fund, initiated by gifts from past presidents of the Alumni Association and several Institute staff members, is an ideal way to honor Bill for his many years of service," said Diana Tilley Strange HM, Secretary of the Association.
"There is nothing the staff could have done to please me more," Bill said when he learned about the scholarship fund. "But for a scholarship I was given in 1957, I could never have come to MIT."
Undergraduate education and support for undergraduate scholarships have been hallmarks of Bill's tenure at the Institute. Throughout his years at MIT, both as director of the Educational Council and as executive vice president of the Association, Bill has always been a freshman advisor. For several years now he has led a popular freshman seminar on the Beatles. On Bill’s watch, the Association Scholarship Fund has grown to over $8 million and more than $28 million has been contributed to 68 class scholarship funds in small gifts by thousands of alumni.
For the better part of forty years, Bill has been an ambassador for MIT among alumni worldwide. Many alumni and Institute staff have contributed to "Bill's Fund" already. Others are invited to join them in supporting undergraduate student aid with a gift to the William J. Hecht '61 Scholarship Fund (#3449700).
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